Missouri Western and 139th Airlift Wing Announce Partnership

(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Missouri Western State University announced an educational partnership with the 139th Airlift Wing on Friday.

The partnership will give military personnel based at Rosecrans opportunities to earn their degree.

"I think it's another way how we are demonstrating how important the 139th is to our community and region," said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The program will give airmen the chance to earn their CCAF degrees. As part of it, they will take general education courses at the college.

Col. Ralph Schwader said the partnership will help airmen advance in the Air National Guard.

"With Missouri Western right here in our backyard it made a lot of sense," he said. "We've got about 200 people or so that are going to require this degree within the near two to five year time frame."

Business students at Missouri Western will also have real-world opportunities to work with Rosecrans in making a case for adding C-130 simulators.

The 139th Airlift Wing already has some people signed up to take courses.

Copyright 2015 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.